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Notes ‘n’ quotes — and a few Bobby Knight jokes ...
Was it not appropriate that West Rowan was the first school to graduate Thursday afternoon?
West was first in everything else, wasn’t it?
Well, not really, but in athletics, it seemed that way, thanks to names like Scooter Sherrill and Kari Schenk. It was such a great year that sports could not be forgotten, even at graduation.
At the end of the ceremonies, principal Henry Kluttz stunned Scooter and Schenk by presenting them their home jerseys in a frame. The away jerseys, also framed, will be displayed in the gym forever.
Good move, Henry.
Kluttz actually began thinking about honoring Scooter last year but then researched Schenk’s accomplishments and felt she deserved the same. Besides her athletic prowess, she was a scholar-athlete throughout her career and was in the top 10 percent of her class.
“Their greatness, their strength, their endurance, seeking to be the best — it was symbolic of this senior class,” Kluttz said.
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Justin Pauley was the best 14-year old basketball player I ever watched. He was 6-foot-4 and had the moves of a college freshman.
Now, he is preparing for his freshman year in college.
Pauley, who played with Scooter at West Rowan Middle School before playing a couple of seasons with South Rowan, has signed a full scholarship with Division II Houghton University in upstate New York.
And why not play in New York? Pauley is the Marco Polo of basketball. He is well traveled.
After his two seasons in Rowan County, his parents moved outside of Cleveland, Ohio. At Madison High, Pauley made an immediate impact, averaging 22 points and 10 rebounds as a junior and 21 points and 11 boards his senior season.
Pauley, now 6-5, was selected to play in two Ohio all-star games and was honorable mention all-state.
Pauley had a career-high 47 points in one game and finished his sterling career with 1,602 points.
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Did you see that brawl between the Dodgers and Cubs fans? There was a lot of pushing, slugging and choking.
Reminded me of a Bobby Knight practice.
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Area sports fans have definitely been spoiled over the past two years in three different major sports, thanks to three nationally known prep athletes.
Two years ago, we watched Kannapolis’ Nick Maddox in football. He was ranked as the best running back in the country. He signed with Florida State.
This past season, we watched Scooter in basketball become a McDonald’s All-American. He signed with N.C. State.
And right now, we’re watching Daniel Moore in baseball, who has signed with North Carolina but is a shoo-in to be chosen high in the June draft.
Any other area in this state give you that kind of superstardom?
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Dale Earnhardt Jr. after winning The Winston: “We’re gonna drink a lot of Budweiser.”
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Here’s some pro football news:
n Brian Hinson, an All-American offensive lineman at Catawba, signed with the Greensboro Prowlers of the arena2 league. He played one game and gave it up, according to Catawba coaches.
n Greg Banner, a Catawba assistant coach, gave up arena2 as well. He was fired as offensive coordinator of the Prowlers after they were defeated 67-7 and 69-9. His brother, Clayton, the head coach was also fired.
n Shannon Myers, a former North Rowan star, is a free agent but still thinks of himself as an Oakland Raider. He says Seattle has also shown interest.
n Myers said he has talked with West Rowan product John Milem, San Francisco’s fifth-round pick. He said the defensive lineman is doing well ... but, boy, is he sore.
n Catawba’s DeVonte Peterson, title beat out Milem for the sack lead in the South Atlantic Conference last season, will be a senior with high expectations this fall. The 6-4, 290-pound defensive lineman has impressed enough for pro scouts to contact the Indian coaches. Denver was the latest team to inquire.
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Ice skater Tonya Harding was released from jail last week. She was serving time for hitting a man in the face with a hubcap during an argument.
Or as Bobby Knight calls it — motivational speaking.
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Harding’s community service will consist of walking along the road, picking up trash.
Or as she calls it, dating.
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Whatever happened to ...
Brien Taylor, the well-documented first pick in the1991 for the Yankees, was released by that team in 1998 and by the Mariners last year. He was signed by Cleveland and sent to Columbus in the South Atlantic League.
But we may never see him in Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium. He has already been sent to extended spring training.
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Go to Greensboro tonight through Sunday to watch the Piedmont Boll Weevils play the Bats at War Memorial Stadium. There will be a free Babe Ruth exhibit there, including a bat, mitt, films and even a paycheck stub.
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Hopefully, the Bats stadium will be ready for baseball tonight. A storm knocked a couple of holes in the outfield wall earlier this week. Bats officials said repairs would be made by game time.
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After watching the Lakers lose 106-77 to Portland earlier this week, there were some angry L.A. Clippers, who thought they could be NBA finalists.
“Heck , we could’ve lost by 29 points,” they said.
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Salisbury athletic director Raymond Daugherty was asked what he thought about realignment and having to travel to West Iredell and West Stokes.
As far as West Iredell, he said, “I’m just glad, we’re not on the end of the conference.”
And although West Stokes sounds far, far away, it’s actually a straight drive up I-85 and U.S. 52 to King.
“We’ll probably get there quicker than we did driving to High Point Central,” he said.
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It is the 20th anniversary of Mount St. Helen’s eruption — the biggest, most violent explosion in history not involving Bobby Knight.
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And finally ...
Yogi Berra just turned 75 but his tongue is as sharp as ever.
He recently had a 149-passenger New York waterway ferry named after him. He took the first ride down the Hudson River and had instructions for the men running the ship.
“I told the captain, ‘When you come to a fork in the river, take it.’”
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Ronnie Gallagher is the sports editor of the Post.
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Ronnie